The Philippines is asking the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to keep its markets open to regional trade amid plans by some members to halt exports of crude products due to supply disruptions caused by the escalating war in the Middle East.

During a press briefing on Thursday, March 12, Trade Undersecretary Allan Gepty said every action of each ASEAN member must remain consistent with the regional bloc’s economic integration.

Gepty said markets should remain open to trade and investment, despite the allure of imposing non-tariff barriers, to ensure regional trade remains intact amid upheavals elsewhere.

He noted that one of these barriers is export restrictions, which are considered at odds with ASEAN's objectives of upholding open trade.

Last week, Thailand already moved to ban fuel exports, with some exemptions, as it looks to secure its domestic energy supply and temper further increases in fuel prices.

Meanwhile, state-run firm Petrovietnam has been urging the Vietnamese government to impose stronger control measures, such as a total ban, to also protect its local supply.

These efforts come after supply disruptions stemming from the conflict in the Middle East involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, which currently has no end in sight.

For a country that is highly dependent on fuel imports, Gepty said export restrictions are measures the Philippines wants to avoid, as they could trigger a domino effect that would put pressure on other sectors.

“We have to make sure that the supply chain, particularly on energy, food, and other vital sectors must remain intact,” the official said.

“We cannot afford to have a separate approach in addressing this conflict. It is a must that ASEAN member states must work together,” he added.

Given fears of prolonged tensions in the Middle East, Gepty said the regional bloc would work on initiatives to address the current issue at the 32nd ASEAN Economic Ministers (AEM) Retreat, to be held on Friday.

During this event, he expects each ASEAN member state to commit to keeping its respective economy open to trade and refrain from restrictive measures.

“It's very important that whenever we adopt and implement measures, we have to keep in mind that our regional economic integration agenda is intact and anchored on security, sustainability, and shared prosperity,” said Gepty.

The AEM Retreat, which will bring together the region’s top economic ministers, will serve as the platform to discuss ASEAN’s economic direction and the broader global economic landscape.

The event will see the endorsement of the Philippines’ priority economic deliverables (PEDs) as chair of ASEAN this year.

Under the chairship theme of “Navigating Our Future Together,” the PEDs focus on a diverse range of sectors such as energy, agriculture, strategic trade management, artificial intelligence, and the sustainable and green agenda.

The retreat will also highlight major initiatives such as the negotiations for the Digital Economy Framework Agreement (DEFA), as well as Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN economic agreements.

As part of the event, the economic ministers will also hold dialogue sessions with the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC), the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia (ERIA), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

With ongoing geopolitical developments, Gepty said ASEAN remains committed to moving forward with unity by enforcing robust economic collaboration.

“History reminds us that periods of global transition often reward regions that act with coherence and foresight. And when the world becomes more complex, cooperation becomes even more valuable,” he said.